Following almost destroying our world, our families are allies’: a thrilling audio series featuring John F. Kennedy and Khrushchev’s descendants.

In October 1962, the planet edged closer to ruin more so than ever during modern times. This transpired after a US surveillance aircraft identified that Russian atomic weapon installations were under construction on Cuba, a mere 160 kilometers from American soil. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy commanded the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet to enact a maritime quarantine encircling the island. What followed constituted nearly 14 days filled with impossible anxiety.

The Catastrophic Danger

The danger was obvious. Should President Kennedy, or else the Russian opposite, Premier Khrushchev, were to fire against the other side, a series of worldwide atomic strikes followed by counterstrikes would have followed, casting mankind toward all-out ruination.

The Cuban missile crisis has been examined repeatedly, through volumes, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the BBC World Service podcast titled "The Bomb" introduces a completely new perspective into the story. The series is co-presented by Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, family members of the leaders that, for 13 days, held the fate of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side planning? What were the American side planning?" asks Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's great-granddaughter who is also a professor of global relations.

For her, the strength of the podcast lies in its endeavor to explore: "Why do individuals detest one another to the point they oppose each other?"

"I am acutely aware how profound it is that individuals can be allies or have the potential to be complete enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, the son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of the late president and currently an author as well as attorney. "History shows this repeatedly when nations enter into conflict, and it just illustrates how unbelievably stupid involved to fight."

The Precipice Towards Disaster

What is notable regarding this event was that, because it transpired so publicly, citizens worldwide could watch almost in real time while it edged towards catastrophe. Even so, the threat of annihilation was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone in the White House wanted a military strike followed by an invasion," notes Kennedy. "If we had attacked Cuba with the Sixth Fleet, undoubtedly the Russians stationed there would've fired a nuclear warhead at the US Sixth Fleet, and that would have destroyed our aircraft carriers and destroyed America's primary naval force. And, we would have retaliated with massive retaliation that would have ended all life on Earth."

The fact this did not occur highlights the composure of Kennedy and Khrushchev, who managed to remain calm while calmly negotiate when hawkish elements in their governments were advocating action. Consequently, Khrushchev removed the missiles in Cuba while President Kennedy (although not reported at the time) withdrew his missiles based in Turkey. The relief was worldwide, matched by the sense of hope.

The Divergent Perspective

Still, during those 13 days in October, the fear was felt globally. The podcast's co-hosts were born in the years following these events, and Nina learned about it via the Soviet education system, which presented an alternative picture of events.

"As you mentioned your parent recalls it, describing it as a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "But for Soviet citizens, people were largely unaware a great deal about it, since it was a tense situation, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was always wonderful and positive."

Inside Khrushchev’s family, though, it was different. "They told me what a great moment for the USSR, as it was eyeball to eyeball. They were able to resolve it, and avoided the war, seen as a wonderful thing," she adds. In the years to come, though, that perspective would not be shared by everybody. "For decades within Russian historical analysis, the crisis was viewed as a failure for Khrushchev, because he didn’t blow up America."

A Unlikely Partnership

The Bomb is remarkably balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This effect is, in part, due to the participation of historians. Yet, really, the most groundbreaking thing remains the participation of the descendants. Not so long ago, it was inconceivable for descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union to appear together publicly. That these two individuals are able to do so, and be so warm with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I are not the pioneers," notes Khrushcheva. "Following 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," clarifies Kennedy. "Which is unfortunate since we got along immediately and now we’re friends, which is really great. Ultimately, after nearly 60 years of almost destroying the world, our families are now allies, suggesting global relations is safer, a little bit."

Contemporary Echoes with Present Dangers

Or is it? One reason why this series seems so urgent is that we once again are living living through a perilous era. The Doomsday Clock is closer to catastrophe than ever before, in part because today's statesmen appear not to have the capacity to grasp